First class

WHICH CAR?

We think the i10 and the Spark are brilliant first cars. The i10 looks contemporary and offers big car ride and feel. The Spark is good looking and economical but feels less solid and not as well built as the i10. Between the two, it is the Hyundai that will retain its value better five years down the line. The Magna variant will be a good choice, since it has all the bells and whistles as well as safety equipment like airbags and ABS.

Second thoughts

As per your advice, I had almost decided to book the Hyundai i10. But due to time constraints, I couldn't complete my purchase. Now that I have got some time to spare, I'm looking to make the purchase. On recommendation by some friends, I looked at the Skoda Fabia 1.2 base model and it's just half a lakh of rupees more expensive. I thought I should take your opinion once again before finalising my purchase. On the basis of fuel efficiency, maintenance cost, driving comfort and resale value, which do you think offers the best value?

Samir D Shah, via email

The Fabia 1.2 base variant comes with twin airbags but no ABS. But it's decently loaded, and offers more space than the i10. We haven't yet driven the 1.2 (which we will, in the near future), but on the basis of the questions you ask, fuel efficiency should be at par, while the maintenance costs of the Skoda will be significantly higher than that of the i10. While both cars are comfortable to drive, the dimensions of the Hyundai make it a better car to squeeze in traffic as well as park. The Fabia though offers the better ride quality, while both cars should fetch you a good resale value in the future. If you are willing to spend the extra fifty thousand, go for the Fabia. It is a well-engineered car on the whole and yes, one size larger than the i10.

Boot 'em

I want to buy a new car and my budget is Rs 5 lakh. I will be driving it mostly in the city (about 10-12 km daily) and occasionally, on drives out of town, but not more than 50 km. I have the option of buying the Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire LXi at Rs 4.8 lakh or the Tata Indigo CS diesel for Rs 4.77 lakh, on road. Which of these two will enjoy a better resale value? Please guide me.

Pradeep Ghosh, via email

If we have to suggest you the better automobile, it would be the Dzire with its refinement and performance. The average kilometres you cover do not warrant a diesel engine, and the Dzire is pretty frugal anyway. But if you really are tempted by diesel economy, you can opt for the Swift diesel instead of the Dzire diesel.

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